So I am running a cellulosic ethanol company which focusses on agricultural waste streams and waste streams from our discarded wealth. It feels to me like we are in the midst of the creation of en entirely new industry. The reason to create this industry, and I would include solar, wind, energy efficiency, is to wean ourselves off of petroleum. You simply can't get there without a starting point to develop the infrastructure to make it happen. If you go to Brazil they have ethanol at every pump which is by far cheaper than gasoline. We can do this from agricultural products that that do not affect the food supply.
Algae may not be there today, but how do you get there if you don't start somewhere. Where is the spirit that used to exist in this country of a willingness to take on any problem and solve it. It seems like we are dominated by defeatism. Let's get on with creating a better world. We'll make some mistakes along the way, but if we get stuck at the starting gate, its game over.